TWAD identifies bottlenecks, plans strategies to address water scarcity

After conducting a thorough analysis on the strength, weakness, opportunities and threats of the 556 combined water supply schemes (CWSS) across the State for the past 15 days, the Tamil Nadu Water supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board has recommended going for tanker supply and linking of pipelines laid under different schemes so as to ensure timely delivery of quality water.

During the SWOT analysis across Tamil Nadu (except Chennai) that was undertaken as directed by the MD of the utility CN Mahesvaran, the executive engineers, assistant executive engineers, assistant engineers scientifically studied the water distribution system, such as sustainability of the water in the storage reservoirs, source augmentation, creation of flow diversion channels and other ways and means to improve the service delivery in overhead tanks, pumping mains and pumping stations, said a press release from the board on Thursday.

According to the engineers, the main reasons for hampering supply were interruptions in power supply, damage in pipelines due to road widening works and other leaks and bursts, and over draw in some areas. After studying the scenario, the board has drawn up a four-step strategy: supply water to unserved habitations through tanker lorries, arrange generators in areas where the power supply is interrupted, attend to leaks and pipeline bursts immediately, and keep mechanical and electrical equipment such as motors, pumpsets, valves, pipes and other accessories on stand-by to make sure that such troubles do not interrupt the supply.

In addition, understanding the significance of awareness among the public, the board has also decided to organise activities such as rallies, cultural activities, wall writings and paintings in rural schools, banners and flex boards, and also audio-visual shows, the statement added. To undertake these works, a special fund of Rs 20 crore has been allotted to the district officials.

Managing director Mahesvaran is holding review meetings with TWAD officials, which would be attended also by assistant director (town panchayat) and assistant director (panchayat) at Coimbatore, Vellore, Madurai and Tiruchy collectorates. It started at Coimbatore on Thursday, in which TWAD officials from Coimbatore, Erode, Tirupur, The Nilgiris, Salem, Namakkal and Karur districts participated. These would be held in other places in the coming days, the statement added.

During the meeting, the officials would review the detailed project report of various schemes; the habitations fully and partially served, and not served; the number of illegal or unauthorised connections, the ones removed and the plan for removing the rest; and action plan for proving water supply to unserved families among other things.